Strong earthquake hits India's Andaman Islands

The quake, which was centered some 75 miles southwest of the Andaman capital, Port Blair, caused panic among residents but no damage or injuries, said Ranjit Narayan, the director general of police in the Andamans.

The Indian Meteorological Department said the quake, which they described as moderate, struck at 5:40 p.m. at a depth of 6 miles.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a bulletin saying there was "a very small possibility of a destructive local tsunami in the Indian Ocean."

However, Narayan said no local tsunami warning had been issued.

The remote islands off the east coast of India were among the many areas devastated by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The official death toll across India was 10,749. Another 5,640 people--mostly in the Andaman and Nicobar islands--are listed as missing, presumed dead.